Wringer release mechanism



Jan. 12, 1937. B. E. GETZ 'awRINGER RELEASE MECHANISM Original FiledJan; 28, 1933 3 Sheets-Sheet l INYEN'I' DE...

Jan. 12, 1937. E, GETZ 2,067,603

WRINGER RELEASE MECHANI SM Original Filed Jan. 28, 1933 3 sheets -sheet2 .BITTE Jan. 12, 1937. B. E GETZ WRINGER RELEASE MECHANI SM OriginalFiled Jan. 28, 1933 'i Sheets-Sheet s INYENTEE Patented Jan. 12, 1937WRINGER RELEASE MECHANISM Benjamin E. Getz, Morton, Ill.

Application January 28, 1933, Serial No. 653,995 Renewed November 20,1936 2 Claims.

This invention relates to control and release mechanism for rollwringers and has for its principal object the provision of a mechanismwhereby the operation of a roll wringer may be controlled and release ofthe roll tensioning means accomplished by manipulation of a singlehandle.

Another object is to provide a unit release and control mechanismwhereby rotation of the wringer rolls may be started in either directionor stopped by manipulation of a single handle.

Still another object is to provide a control mechanism having manuallyoperable handle means for engaging clutching devices adapted to connectpower driving means with the wringer rolls, the manually operable meansbeing adapted, when placed in one position, to retain the clutchingdevices out of engagement, when placed in another position to engage thedriving means to rotate the rolls in one direction and when placed in anopposed position to engage the driving means to rotate the rolls in anopposite direction.

A further object is to provide a control mechanism as above which alsoincludes means for retaining or releasing the roll tensioning means, theretaining means being connected with the handle means in such a mannerthat when the handle is operated to release the tensioning means, theclutching mechanism is automatically disengaged.

A still further object of the invention lies in the provision of aswinging wringer head having locking means so connected with theaforementioned handle mechanism that rotation of the head upon itssupport is rendered impossible except when the roller drive clutchingmeans is in neutral position.

Other objects will appear in the following description and accompanyingdrawings, in which- Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a wringer headand the mechanism embodying my inven tion, also a fragmentary view ofsupporting means therefor, the mechanism and portions of the supportingmeans being shown in section to facilitate description;

Fig. 2 is a sectional detail view of the mechanism similar to that shownin Fig. 1, showing certain parts in operated position, as will bedescribed;

Fig. 3 is an end elevational view of the mechanism and wringer supportas the same would appear with housing in place, the view also showingthe wringer head locking device to be described;

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the mechanism showing details of the releasingmechanism in section, also details of operating parts to be described;

Fig. 5 is a view similar to that shown in Fig. 4, showing parts inoperated position 'to be described;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary view similar to that shown in Figs. 4 and 5,showing parts in operated position to be described, and

Fig. '7 is a view of the release and lock operating cam to be described,as the same might be viewed from line 7-1 in Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawings, Fig. 1 will disclose a conventional rollwringer mechanism comprising a lower transverse frame portion l0,upstanding end portions II and I2, a removable upper transverse memberI3 and upper and lower rolls I4 and I5.

The lower roll I 4 is supported in the frame portions H and i2 by meansof its shaft l6 journalled in bearing blocks I! which are rockablysupported upon pins l8.

The upper roll I5 is supported by means of its shaft I 9 journalled inbearing blocks 20 which are slidably mounted in frame portions H and 82.

Upper transverse member I3 is removably supported upon end frameportions I l and 12, on the left hand end, by means of a hook portion 2|extending from frame portion H engaging the lower edge of an opening 22formed in the body of transverse member l3, as shown. Member I3 isretained in suitable alignment with hook 2! by the upper extending endof portion II which projects within the hollow shell of member I3 asshown.

The right hand end of member 43 is supported upon end portion l2 bymeans of the end thereof projecting within the shell of member H3 in amanner similar to the opposite end, and is retained thereon by means ofan extending strap member 23 engaged by a slidable bolt or pin member2d. This retaining mechanism will be referred to shortly.

Rolls l4 and I5 are retained in pressure contact by means of a flatspring member 25, the same being supported within the transverse memberl3 by a hand screw member 26 threadedly retained in a nut fixture 21secured to member [3, as shown.

The lower end of screw 26 has a ball form which adapts it to be looselysecured in a block s'lidable bearing blocks 26 of roll I wherebyresilient pressure may be applied to the roll by means of suitableadjustment of the screw 26.

The wringer mechanism is rotatably supported upon any suitable supportsuch as a washing machine tub which is here fragmentariiy indicated anddesignated as 29.

A bracket bearing member 36 having an upper flanged portion 3| issecured to tub 29. In the upper peripheral face of flange 3| indents 32are formed, the arrangement being best shown in Fig. 3.

Referring again to Fig. 1 it will be noted that a housing member 33 isadapted to be rotatably supported by bracket bearing member 36 by meansof a downwardly extending stem. portion 34, the same having a flangedportion 35 adapted to rest upon the flanged portion 3Ii, and a portion36 extending downwardly and within a circular opening in bearing member30.

From the left hand side of housing 33, as viewed in Fig. 1, thereextends a bracket portion 31 to the outer extremity of which is attachedthe Wringer frame. Attachment obviously may be made in any manner whichaffords suitable strength, the means being here shown as comprisingextending portions 38, formed integrally with bracket portion 31, whichare disposed between ear portions 39, see Fig. 4, extending from theframe end portion I2. Screws 40, passing through ears 39 and portions 38provide secure attachment.

The foregoing has described the wringer mechanism and the means wherebyit is rotatably supported upon any suitable support such as a tub 29.

The driving and control mechanism, which embodies my invention, may nowbe described.

As indicated in Fig. l, a driving shaft 4| is journalled in bearingsformed within the body of extension 3436 as shown. This shaft formsmeans whereby power for driving the wringer rolls is transmitted from asource not here shown; It will be sufficient to say that the lower endof shaft 4I- is provided with a coupling means whereby shaft 4| isremovably coupled with a power driven shaft 42. It will be apparent thatthe method of supporting the wringer head as described, together withthe means of coupling shafts 4| and 42, provides an arrangement wherebya simple upward lift of the wringer head will permit removal of the headfrom the support and driving means.

To the upper end of shaft 4|, within the housing 33, is secured a mitregear 43 meshed with which are two similar gears 44 and 4 5, the latterbeing rotatably mounted upon a horizontal shaft 46. Integrally formedtooth portions 44' and 45 extend inwardly from the inner faces of thegears.

Shaft 46 is journalled in bearings 41 and 48 formed in the body ofhousing 33, and has secured to its inner end a coupling collar 49, thecollar having an extending slotted portion 56 adapted to receive theflattened end of shaft l6 of roll I4.

Slidably keyed to shaft 46, and disposed between gears 44 and 45 is aclutch member 5| having an annular groove 52 about its central portionand tooth portions 53 and 54 extending from either side thereof, theseteeth being adapted, when clutch 5| is slid upon shaft 46 from a neutralor intermediate position toward aoezecs either of gears 44 or 45, toengage teeth 44 or 45' to transmit motion from gears 44 or 45 to shaft46 and thus to wringer roll l4.

Clutch member 5| is operated, as above noted, upon shaft 46 by means ofa mechanism including a block member 55 which is adapted to float ingroove 52. The block member is rotatably supported upon a pin 56eccentrically secured to a flange or disk portion 51 of a vertical stubshaft 59. Outline views of block 55 and pin 56 may be seen in Figs. 4,5, and 6. A spring ball click mechanism 59 housed in a cavity in housingcap member or head 66 is adapted to engage suitably disposed indents inthe upper surfaceof disk portion 51 to retain the eccentric mechanism inany one of several working positions which will be later referred to.

\ .Stub shaft 58 is rotatably mounted in a hearing 6| formed in the bodyof the housing cap member or head 60, which cap is secured to housingmember 33 by means of screws 62.

Secured to the upper end of shaft 58 is a hand lever member 63 having anintegrally formed flange portion 64, the lower face of which rests uponthe upper surface of the boss portion of bearing 6|. It will be apparentthat shaft 58, together with handle lever 63 and disk 51, are allproperly retained in bearing 6| by reason of disk 51 and flange portion64 bearing upon either end of the body of bearing 6|.

Upon the under side of flange 64 is a groove 65 adapted to slidablyreceive an upstanding lug portion 66 of the sliding bolt member 24.

With reference to the bolt 24, it will be noted that the same isslidably supported at its rounded outer end, in a circular opening in aprojecting portion 61, and at its central squared portion betweenupstanding portions 68 extending from the body of cover member 66. A pin69 retains the bolt in position between the portions 68;

It may also be noted here that the strap member 23, already noted, is sodimensioned and formed as to extend downwardly when parts are disposedas in Fig. l, to be received between the projecting portion 61 and theouter wall of frame portion I2. As best shown in Fig. 2, a circularopening I6 is formed in the lower portion of strap member 23. Referenceto Fig. 1 will indicate that with parts in position as shown, theopening 10 registers with the opening in portion 61 and thus with theend of bolt 24, the bolt, when propelled forward to engage in theopening 10 as shown, forming a locking means whereby the uppertransverse member I3 is retained in working position as will be referredto shortly.

Figs. 1 and 2 disclose one of link members I3 of which there are two,one on either side, pivotally supported upon a pin I3 secured to thetransverse member I3. Links I3 depend into and adjacent the sides offrame portion I2 as may be observed in Figs. 4 and 5.

Pins I2 secured to frame portion I2 engaging a slot- I2 formed in thelower portion of links I3 are adapted to slidably retain links I3 insuch a manner that transverse member I3 may be removed a certaindistance from frame portion I 2 without becoming entirely separatedtherefrom. The relative movement of transverse member I3 is clearlyindicated in Fig. 2 as compared with Fig. 1.

Referring to Fig. 7, it will be noted that the groove 65, above referredto, is so shaped as to form a cam whereby the lug 66, together withbolt'member 24, may be, upon rotation of hand lever 63, propelled towardor away from the axis of shaft 58 to insert or withdraw the end of bolt24 from engagement in opening ill of strap member 23. The utility ofthis movement will be explained later.

Fig. 3 will disclose a lever member H, pivoted at 12 upon bracketsextending from the side of housing 33. The lower end I3 of lever 1|. isslidably retained between extensions 14, the same being integral withflange portion 35 of stem 34, and is adapted to engage in indents 32 ofbracket bearing member 30.

A spring 15, anchored at 16 upon housing 33 and hooked upon a pin 11secured to lever ii, tends to urge the end 13 toward engagement withindents 32 as described.

An upper angulated portion of lever ll terminates in a rounded end 18which is adapted, when the lower end 13 is engaged in an indent 32, torest adjacent the periphery of flange portion 64 of lever 63. 1

Referringto Fig. '7, also Figs. 4, 5, and 6, it will be noted thatflange portion 64 has indents l9 and 80 disposed upon either side, whichindents are adapted to receive the end 58 of lever ii when handle $3 issuitably positioned, as will now be described in connection with thegeneral operation of the above described mechanism.

It has already been noted that the entire wringer mechanism is rotatablymounted upon a tub or other support by means of the flange portion 35and stem portion 35 resting upon and within bracket bearing member 30.Dotted lines in Fig. 3 and the views shown in Figs. 4 and 5 willindicate that when hand lever 63 is rotated to position either ofindents l9 or 80 opposite the end 18, lever H may be manually rockedupon the pivot 12 to place the end 18 in one of the indents and withdrawthe lower end 13 thereof from engagement in indents 32.

With lever H in this. position, the wringer mechanism may be freelyrotated upon its support to any new position desired, whereupon removalof manual pressure will permit spring 15 to replace lever H as shown insolid lines in Fig. 3, when end 13 will be engaged with a correspondingindent 32 thereby firmly locking the wringer mechanism against furthermovement relative to its supporting means.

As indicated in Figs. 4, 5, and 6, the peripheral face of flange fit 'isadapted to prevent un-.

locking movement of lever II. as described when handle 63 is in anyposition other than in line with the axial center of the wringer rolls.that is, in either of the positions shown in dotted lines in Fig. 5, inwhich positions either of indents 79 or 80 is so disposed as to receivethe lever end "It to pem iit suflicient movement of lever ii towithdraw' 'the lower end 13 as described.

It will be noted that indents 19 and 80 are so disposed with relation tothe operating mechanism of clutch ii that unlocking of lever H ispermitted only when the clutch is in neutral position. Thus, the wringerhead may not be unlocked when the clutch is in engagement with thedriving means, regardless of whether or not the driving means are inmotion.

Referring to Fig. 1, it has already been noted that shaft M is adaptedto be rotated by any suitable power means, whereby gear 43 is rotated toimpart unitary rotation of clutch gears 44 and 45 in oppositedirections.

Rotation in either direction is imparted to the wringer rolls by meansof engagement of the teeth of clutch 5| with the teeth of clutch gears44 or 45.

Movement of clutch II from u neutral position intermediate the gears 44and 45, into engagement with gears 44 or 45 as described, is controlledby movement of handle 63 through the eccentricaily mounted block 55operating in clutch slot 52, as described, the movement of clutch 5irelative to handle 63 being such that when the handle is placed ineither of dotted line positions, see Fig. 5, clutch BI is retained inneutral position, whereas with handle 63 placed in either positionintermediate the two neutral positions, that is, toward either side ofthe wringer structure, clutch 5! is moved into engagement with gears 44or 45 to cause rotation of the wringer rolls in either direction, asdescribed. Thus, rotation of the rolls in predetermined direction iscontrolled by simple manipulation of handle 53.

The foregoing has described means by which the wringer mechanism is mademovable and locked on its support, and means for controlling rotation ofthe ringer rolls.

A further important feature of my invention resides in a means forquickly releasing the contact pressure between the wringer rolls. Themechanism for accomplishing such release has already been described andwill not be here explained, further than. to say that manipulation ofhandle 63 is eifective not only to control the roll clutch means, butalso the movement of bolt 24.

Reference to Fig. 7, also to dotted outlines of the corresponding partin Figs. 4, 5, and 6, will indicate that the cam slot 65 is so shapedand disposed relative to handle 63 and to the wringer roll clutchingmechanism that during movement of the handle to the position shown inFig. 6 to rotate the rolls in one direction, or a diametrically oppositeposition to rotate the rolls in the opposite direction, or to theposition shown in Fig. 4, to retain the clutch in neutral position, thelug 66 of bolt 24 is engaged in the part of slot 65 having substantiallya circular form whereby the bolt is retained in engagement with the bandmember 23 as already described.

Thus, handle 63 may be manipulated to control all normal operation ofthe wringer without disturbance of the roll tensioning mechanism.However, should an emergency arise during practical operation of thewringer, in which it became necessary to quickly release the rolltensioning means, a slight movement of handle 63, from either forward orbackward roll operating position, toward the wringer frame will bringinto play a portion of slot 65 which is designed to propel bolt 24toward the axial center of the handle to withdraw it from engagementwith strap 23, thereby releasing the upper transverse member i3,allowing it to move upward to relax spring 25 and thus remove thepressure of the spring from bearing blocks 20 and consequently fromroller iii.

The foregoing, together with the drawings referred to, will illustratethat all operating functions of my wringer are controlled throughmanipulation of a single control means such as the handle 53.

What I claim is:

1. In a power wringer .of the type having a head, a reverse gear in thehead and a manual control member for the reverse gear, a frame providedwith a freely releasable top portion and and rollers; a longitudinallymovable latch bolt on the head and having means to engage and restrainthe top portion of the frame and also having an angularly projectinglug, said control member having a continuous groove receiving said mgand having means to advance and retract the latch bolt with respect tothe top portion of the frame, and a guide for the latch bolt on saidhead and having means restricting the movement of the latch bolt to alongitudinal one so that the lug of the bolt re- 19 mains constantly insaid continuous groove.

nan-mum E. om.

